I had every intention of posting comments in my blog on a daily basis and succeeded until May of last year. Then, I had every intention of posting on a daily basis for this school year until............. I was put in charge of K-12 Professional Development, am serving as the Licensure Renewal Coordinator, Mentor Coordinator and trainer for six young teachers, oh....and a full time Kindergarten teacher. This school year it feels like I have to schedule in a bathroom break. I have been very very busy!!!

I do have a terrific class of 12 precious students with a full time teacher assistant (I keep pinching myself to make sure I am not dreaming) and it is a joy to see the enthusiasm of young teachers just beginning their career. Although it is a lot of work, I truly love working with each of the six teachers I am mentoring. Just envisioning the talent and potential of each of them is an awesome experience!

Then there are my kindergarten students. They are such a precious bunch. I wouldn't trade watching the enthusiasm and wonder on those little faces every morning for any other job in the world. I feel truly blessed to have a job that I enjoy so much.......even if they slip and call me "Maw Maw" or "Me Maw". Years ago they would slip and call me Mommy or Mom....sigh. I will occasionally sidle up to a mirror after one of those slips only to catch a glimpse of my wrinkles. It makes me realize just how fast time goes by.

One of my former students came up and gave me a hug the other day and told me "You were my BEST teacher even if you are old!" Hmmmmmmmm.......was that a backhanded compliment I wondered? Quite frankly, I am too old to care!

Tomorrow is get acquainted day for a new group of kindergartners! Where did the summer go? It seems like just yesterday that it was May and I was frantically trying to get everything done. I have been staying until 8:30 pm every night this week but am happy to say that we are ready!!! I can't wait to meet our new students tomorrow. I just love my job!!!!

This summer I worked on a sketch of my daughter. I still haven't finished it but thought I would let you see it. Okay, so I am no Picasso but I love to draw almost as much as I love teaching kindergarten!

Well,all my fellow blogging buddies.......the curriculum conference in Philadelphia was fantastic. I am leaving for the mountains in the morning so I will write a blog post about it when I get back, for all you teachers out there....was simply awesome and I learned a lot. When I got back, a friend invited me to go see a movie matinee with her.

When we walked in the already dark theater, I spotted a good friend chatting and enjoying her popcorn and a drink. I would know her head of hair anywhere....soooooooooo, I went behind her and stuck my hand in her popcorn and said " You not going to share any with your old buddy gf?" thinking she would get a kick out of me teasing her.

I don't know whose mouth dropped open wider...mine or the stranger who turned around and looked at me like I had lost my mind. I would have crawled under the seat, but I am too big...sigh. I apologized and told her I thought she was someone else...and offered to replace her popcorn. ......sooooooooo, maybe I need a longer break to rejuvenate.....as a result, we are headed to Biltmore House in the morning. I miss all my blogging buds......have a wonderful week-end......muwahhhhhhhhhh

I just finished teaching two weeks of a summer camp and am leaving in the morning for a curriculum conference in Philedelphia. I have missed reading your blogs but needed the time to unwind and then gear up for summer school. I will definitely get back into posting next week. Hope you all are doing well.

Hi there all my blogging buddies. I just wanted to let you know that I am taking a little break from blogging. My last teacher workday was yesterday and to be honest with you.....I just need to get my energy back. I try to give my teaching 200%. I miss my blogging friends and will return soon. Blessings to you all.

I am participating in Alphabet Thursday today. This week the assignment is the letter S. On this last day of the school year with the children, S represents sniffles and sadness for me. Every year I marvel at the new group of Students put in my care. I always wonder how I could possibly get a better group of students ....but I always do. I can't get over how leaky the ceiling gets at this time of the year. We have a special moving up ceremony for each grade level and give out awards. The parents come back to the room to get their child's report card. I had a terrible case of the sniffles as I stuffed these in each report card envelope with the letter below for each student. I also included a letter for the parents. Any of you teachers out there are welcome to copy it.

I give you back your child, the same child you confidently entrusted to our care last fall. I give her back pounds heavier, inches taller, months wiser, more responsible, and more mature than she was then.

Although she would have attained her growth in spite of me, it has been my pleasure and privilege to watch her personality unfold day by day and marvel at this splendid miracle of development.

I give her back reluctantly, for having spent nine months together in the narrow confines of a crowded classroom, we have grown close, have become a part of each other, and we shall always retain a little of each other.

We have lived, loved, laughed, played, studied, learned, and enriched our lives together this year. I wish it could go on indefinitely, but give her back I must. Take care of her, for she is precious.

Remember that I will always be interested in your child and her destiny, wherever she goes, whatever she does, whoever she becomes. Her joys and sorrows I will always be happy to share.

Much Love,

Mrs. B

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------I also make a CD of all of the pictures I take for the school year and give it to the parents. This year a parent offered to do the CDs for me which I thought was really sweet.